This year, when the Academy Awards nominations were announced, there was near universal praise for the nominations. Not just because it recognized the best and the brightest in Hollywood, but because the diversity of the nominees had greatly increased from the two previous ceremonies.

For the first time, three African-American actresses had been nominated in the same category. Viola Davis, Naomie Harris, and Octavia Spencer will vie for the Best Supporting Actress against Nicole Kidman and Michelle Williams. Davis, who is the first black woman to garner three Oscar nominations during her career, is the odds-on favorite to win for her role in “Fences.”

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Davis’ co-star Denzel Washington could take home his third Oscar Sunday, and for the first time, three African-American screenwriters will battle for the “Best Adapted Screenplay” statuette.

In total, seven minority actors were nominated in acting categories this year, tying an Academy record. That number pales in comparison to the last two ceremonies, each of which garnered heavy criticism of the lack of diversity in its categories.

When the nominees for the 87th Academy Awards were announced in January of 2015, the world took notice. But most of the hoopla that surrounded the ceremony was not for the nominated performances.

All 20 of the actors who had been nominated for best actor/actress and best supporting actor/actress were Caucasian. An outcry from the public ensued with the hashtag “OscarsSoWhite” emerging on Twitter.

In response, the president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Cheryl Boone Issacs, told the Associated Press the Academy is "committed to seeking out diversity of voice and opinion." Boone Issacs, who is the first black president of The Academy, insisted that she was proud of the nominees that year.

At the heart of the controversy that year, was the omission of a best actor nomination for David Oyelowo in his portrayal of Martin Luther King, Jr. in the film “Selma.” The film’s director, Ava DuVernay was also snubbed of a directing nomination. The film’s only win came in the “Best Original Song” category for “Glory,” written by John Legend and Common.

"It matters that we pay attention to, again, the diversity of voice and opinion and experience, and that it doesn't slide, it doesn't slide anywhere except for forward," Boone Issacs said at the time. "And maybe this year is more just about let's kick it in even more."

With Boone Issacs' words, there was more anticipation as to who would be nominated the following year.

However, the results in 2016, proved to make a louder outcry than the year before. For the second consecutive year, all of the twenty actors nominated were white, as were four of the five nominated directors.

The “OscarsSoWhite” hashtag re-appeared, celebrities, including Jada Pinkett Smith and Spike Lee announced boycotts of the ceremony. Others began pushing for comedian Chris Rock to step down as host of the ceremony.

Actress Lupita Nyong’o, who took home the 2014 Oscar for Best Supporting Actress, voiced her frustration with the lack of diversity in a post to her Instagram page.

“I am disappointed by the lack of inclusion in this year’s Academy Awards nominations,” she wrote. “The Awards should not dictate the terms of at in our modern society, but rather be a diverse reflection of the best of what our art has to offer today.”

For 2017, it seems that the #OscarsSoWhite, is no more. No matter who comes up with Oscar gold on Sunday, this year's nominations could continue to set a trend for the Academy's nominations for years to come.